JOHN CATTERSON ALMONDBURY CHILD SEX OFFENDER ESCAPES LONG SENTENCE IN HUDDERSFIELD

In March 2010, a disturbing case unfolded in Huddersfield involving John Catterson, a known sex offender with a long history of criminal behavior dating back to the late 1970s. Catterson, who resided in Almondbury, was convicted of luring young girls to his home in Westgate, a short distance from a local school, with the intent to exploit them sexually.

He was brought before Bradford Crown Court, where he admitted to two serious offences involving two nine-year-old girls. The girls had been invited to his house under the pretense of playing games, enjoying sweets and ice-cream, and engaging in activities like pool. However, Catterson’s intentions were far from innocent. During these visits, he attempted to coerce one of the girls into touching him and also performed a sex act on himself in front of the children, actions that deeply shocked the court and the community.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall presided over the case and expressed his frustration with the limitations imposed by current sentencing guidelines. Although he acknowledged the gravity of Catterson’s actions and his history of indecent exposure and other sex crimes, he was constrained from imposing a longer, more severe sentence. Catterson was sentenced to a total of 32 months in prison, a decision that drew criticism from the judge himself.

Judge Durham Hall stated that he would have preferred to impose a much harsher punishment but was bound by recent legislative changes and guidelines that restrict the ability to hand down indeterminate sentences for such offences. He emphasized that Catterson posed a significant danger to children, describing him as a “very serious danger,” yet the legal framework prevented him from ordering a sentence that would reflect this risk fully.

During the sentencing, Catterson, who is 57 years old and has a tall, bespectacled appearance, admitted to one offence of sexual assault on a girl under 13 and another of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. On his way to the police station following his arrest, he candidly told an officer, “I’ll be honest. I’ve been a sexual predator since I was 22.”

Legal discussions revealed that the offences committed by Catterson did not meet the threshold for a four-year minimum sentence required for an indeterminate imprisonment order, which could have provided a more stringent form of detention. The judge explained that Parliament had recently raised the bar for such sentences, making it more difficult for judges to impose the most severe penalties, even when the risk posed by offenders like Catterson is evident.

Gillian Batts, Catterson’s barrister, described her client as remorseful and aware of the impact his actions had on the victims and their families. She mentioned that he had been attempting to address his issues while in custody. Despite this, Judge Durham Hall labeled Catterson as “an untreatable sexual predator,” highlighting the ongoing danger he represents.

At the time of the offences, Catterson was already under a three-year community order from 2008 and a separate order from March of the previous year for indecent exposure. The judge pointed out that these previous orders had failed to prevent the escalation of his offending, which now included grooming and assaulting young girls in a more sinister manner.

In addition to his prison sentence, Catterson will be subject to an indefinite sexual offences prevention order upon his release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions.

The mother of one of Catterson’s victims expressed her anguish, revealing that her daughter had been suffering from severe nightmares following the abuse. She stated, “We don’t talk about it because we want her to have a normal life – but it has affected her really badly. She can’t be like all the other kids her age anymore, with the freedom to go to the park with her friends.”

The mother also voiced her relief that Catterson was jailed, adding, “If he came back I think he would be a serious risk to children.” Her words underscored the community’s concern over the safety of children in Almondbury and the wider Huddersfield area, where the threat of such predators remains a grave concern.